Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

  The intermission didn’t last long, but there was enough time for the audience to go to the bathroom or walk around, so that they could continue watching the second half of the movie more energetically.

  When the lights in the theater turned on, everyone felt as if they were drawn from another world. They were reluctant to leave that world and longing to return to it as soon as possible.

  Everyone was so concentrated on watching the movie, they had forgotten to eat their snacks or drink beverages, so no one, except Famous, wanted to go to the bathroom.

  “The restroom is right over there. Come back quickly.” Zhang Zian pointed at the bathroom.

  Old Time Tea sipped a mouthful of tea and said sincerely, “Famous, you’re fantastic! I’ve watched numerous movies, and I can tell you that your acting can be compared to prestigious actors!”


  Snowy Lionet sniffed and nodded its head vigorously. “Yes, that’s right! I even cried when I saw the scene where Lightning reunited with its owner. Though I am a cat, for the first time, being a dog seems really cool.”


  “Your performance is only a little bit worse than mine! If you put in more effort, you could be my rival someday!” Richard said arrogantly, flapping its wings.

  It was impossible for the proud Fina to praise Famous publicly. Fina leapt to the back of the sofa and looked at Zhang Zian, impatiently urging him. “Why did the movie pause? When will the second half begin?”


  Zhang Zian looked at the time and replied, “It’ll start again in ten minutes.”


  “Bah! Humans have weird customs!” Fina was upset. It put its paws into the bucket to pick up several dried fish.

  “Meow! Famous, your acting is awesome!” Galaxy blinked its silver-grey eyes and looked at Famous with admiration.

  Without saying anything, Famous walked into the bathroom and closed the door. The walls and doors of the theater was nearly soundproofed, and everyone’s voice faded.

  Famous didn’t go to the toilet. It stood still for a while, put its ear on the door, and held its breath to hear the voices outside.

  It’s nice to be praised, but Famous wanted to know whether everyone was really admiring it, or they just praised it out of courtesy, so it wanted to hear what everyone said behind its back.

  Instead of chatting, the elves started to seriously discuss the plot of the movie and predicted the storyline in the second half of the movie.

  Fina’s cold voice and Richard’s harsh voice were the loudest, followed by Snowy Lionet’s soft voice. Old Time Tea’s voice was slightly hoarse. Though Old Time Tea spoke occasionally, its remarks were insightful and relevant to the plot of the movie.

  Zhang Zian, who already knew where the storyline was headed, did not participate in the discussion. He used the short break to play hide and seek with Galaxy.

  Famous was a bit disappointed. During the movie, Zhang Zian was very serious, occasionally writing something on his book. He hadn’t said anything about Famous. Famous wanted to hear Zhang Zian’s evaluation the most.

  Maybe he’s saving his comments until the movie is over? Famous comforted itself.

  Zhang Zian thought Famous had been staying in the bathroom for an unusually long time, so he shouted, “Famous, have you finished yet? The second half of the movie is about to start!”


  “Coming!” answered Famous in a panic.

  Famous knew that it was inappropriate to eavesdrop on others. If it returned to its seat without pooping, someone would surely be suspicious. Besides Zhang Zian, Galaxy and Richard, the other elves had sharp senses of smell and could easily tell if Famous had actually used the bathroom.

  If anyone asked, “Famous, what did you do in the bathroom, did you eavesdrop on us?” How could it respond? Famous cherished its friendship with everyone, it didn’t want to ruin it.

  It couldn’t pee, no matter how hard it squeezed its bladder.

  In desperation, Famous glanced around the bathroom. When it saw the washbasin, it had an idea.

  Right! I can pretend to be sleepy and say I came in here to wash my face!

  Famous stood up, leaned its upper body against the washbasin, and placed its two front paws under the faucet.

  Clear water trickled from the automatic faucet. It wet the soles of its paws, closed its eyes, and wiped its face. The cool, refreshing water cleansed Famous’s distracting thoughts from its mind.

  This way, no one would doubt it, right?

  Famous was satisfied. It shook off the drops of water from its head like an ordinary dog, and opened its eyes.

  There was a large mirror above the washbasin.

  The mirror was covered tiny drops of water, and they were slowly rolling down.

  Famous saw itself in the mirror. A well-proportioned German Shepherd with a pair of wet, black, eyes in the mirror was looking back at Famous.

  Suddenly, a wave of vertigo hit Famous. Its brain was drowsy, as if something was about to break through its memory.

  Everything except the mirror—the washbasin, the urinal, the toilet, the hand dryer, the ceiling lamp— began to distort. , A huge whirlpool appeared at the center of Famous’s image in the mirror, and was about to engulf everything.

  This feeling…


  Famous’s heart was pounding violently. It was extremely familiar with this feeling. It was the same feeling that Famous felt before it entered Galaxy and Old Time Tea’s Imagined Landscape.

  Am I entering someone’s Imagined Landscape again?

  But why? There’s no other elf in front of me!

  Before Famous had any time to ponder the situation or prepare itself, darkness had arrived in the blink of an eye.

  Famous temporarily lost consciousness.

  It was unclear how long Famous had been passed out before it woke up.

  Wherever it was, was very dark. Famous was neither in Galaxy’s black box nor was it at Old Time Tea’s unnamed mountain. This place was filled with the odor of dog urine. Such an odor could also be smelled in the pet shop in the early morning as well as in the police dog nursing home, but the odor in this place was much more intense.

  When Famous heard a lot of gasping, it realized that there was more than one dog around it.

  Where am I?

  Whose Imagined Landscape is this?

  Famous was flustered and didn’t know why. It wanted to leave this world as soon as possible because it seemed like something terrible was going to happen.

  Bang!

  A door opened, and sunlight entered through the doorway. The air was as fresh as the air in Old Time Tea’s era.

  A middle-aged man—who was chewing tobacco, and wearing jeans and riding boots— appeared at the door. He held a whip in his hand and laid eyes on Famous.

  “Come out! Come out, all of you! Time to select stunt doubles!” he shouted.